Russia, Iran Consider Rail Link to Snag Share of Suez Traffic
- Presidents Putin and Rouhani discuss plan for first time
- Route to run through Azerbaijan, which offered financing help
Shipping containers are seen from the navigation bridge aboard a ship during its southbound passage along the Suez Canal in Egypt.
Photographer: Kristian Helgesen/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Russia and Iran agreed to strengthen transport connections, including a potential railway link through Azerbaijan that would aim to grab a share of the cargo now being shipped through the Suez Canal.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, discussed the plan during a rare joint visit to Azerbaijan on Monday. The fight against terrorism and maritime boundaries in the Caspian Sea were also among the topics of discussion, according to a statement distributed to journalists in the Azeri capital, Baku.